Posted on 05/06/2019 3:30:38 AM PDT by Kaslin
They begged to be regulated. They should be.
They will at the least be hit with a lot of lawsuits and maybe one will wind it’s way up to the SCOTUS.
Unfortunately, when private enterprise becomes a monopoly, there is no other alternative but government regulation to force a level playing field for all users.
The main problem we have is a lack of objective measurements of censorship. Banning Alex Jones is an objective fact but of little consequence. But soft-banning all conservative thought is hard to detect and deadly to freedom in the long run.
What about good old competition?
From what I’ve read, folks are leaving FB in pretty big numbers.
I new site offering unfettered speech could take off with the right advertising and person/people running it.
Or maybe not
I’m just guessing :)
We need a better social media platform, perhaps a platform that actually charges admission or membership fees of some kind, and surely someone must be working on a combo program that combines what makes facebook, instagram, twitter, and youtube popular.
We currently have social media outfits that could be described as a shopping strip (separate shops fishing for foot traffic on Main St.) but we know that in the end, the big box stores came along and won the traffic.
The best thing for most people would be reading literary sites like Chronicles Magazine and funding them to expand their reach instead of sharing.
More likely they are working on a program that makes Facebook obsolete. Not by copying their lame site.
The only way these companies could be regulated on the basis as a monopoly would be if they were providing a critical good or service.
Like oil, transportation of goods and people, or communications.
Facebook and Twitter are not neccessary to the health of the economy so i don’t see them being sebject to goverment breakup.
Couldn't get past that sentence.
The tech giants won't allow it. When Gab tried to position itself as the free speech alternative to Twitter, Apple/Google/Android blocked Gab's apps from their stores.
Classical Liberals..yes.
Totalitarians disguising themselves as ‘liberals’...no.
These social platforms are by definition content providers because they flatly edit content. They either allow or disallow (outright ban or shadow ban) users based on comments and postings, which de-platforms a person and stifles their editorial capability. They are interfering with the free-flow of information on their website by editing or censoring someone’s postings - this is the same as content providing.
FB is a private company and just like the Christian baker, they have a right to discriminate based on their “principles”.
Free Republic is my social media. You all dont comment on my hair and clothes, you think about my opinions and usually agree with me. sarc/
bkmk
“liberals have historically been the ones defending free speech”
Maybe up through the 60’s. I was in college in the 70’s and they were well into censorship by then.
“Gab tried to position itself as the free speech alternative to Twitter, Apple/Google/Android blocked Gab’s apps from their stores”
You can always sideload or use another app store, or just use a web browser. I think POTUS needs to start posting to Gab as well as Twitter, then when he has that going, start doing exclusive Gab posts. That would cause millions to get Gab accounts and pressure the app stores to host Gab apps. This is important not just to develop a free forum. I think in 2020 that Twitter will try to ban him, and he needs to have his alternative channel ready to go.
WOW!!
Boy do I agree with that.
I’ve no desire to share my persona life anywhere but here!! :)
Especially since DP0622 isn’t my real name :)
I “tweeted” during the election to post news that we received her to twitter. News that most wouldn’t know about otherwise.
Twitter will probably ban that in the 2020 election.
Since corporations are considered “persons” under the law, why not simply hit them with US 18 sec 241? Imprison Facebook and Twitter for 10 years.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.